The official 1873 founding document of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences (later to become the Minnesota Academy of Science) contains its original Constitution and By-Laws. Article II states that, It shall be the object of the Academy to observe and investigate natural phenomena; to make collections of specimens illustrating the various departments of science; to name, classify, and preserve the same; also, to discuss such questions as shall come within the province of the Academy. The By-Laws direct the establishment of a museum, as well as regular meetings at which scientific investigations will be communicated either orally or in writing.
This hand-written "Historical Sketch," labeled in different writing [By Newton H. Winchell], contains an incomplete account of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences' 1873 founding and activities in its early years. The approximate date is 1886, as it refers to the 13 years life of the M. A. of N. S. It states that the Academy has 175 members, summarizes its museum specimens, and mentions its public lectures and a few scientific contributions. See the transcript for the full text.
This hand-written document, labeled in different writing [By Newton H. Winchell], contains a brief and incomplete account of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences' founding. The approximate date is 1890, as it refers to the 17 years of the Academy's existence. It includes a list of early members, first elected officers, and honorary members. The death of Dr. A.E. Ames, the Academy's first Corresponding Secretary, is noted. See the transcript for the full text.
The 1899 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences took place at the Public Library Building in Minneapolis on January 3rd, 1899. This program shows 5 scientific talks, ranging from Unusual Occurrences of Copper in Minnesota to The Sugar Beet Industry at St. Louis Park. The agenda also includes reports and the election of officers. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The draft charter, "A Bill for an act of the Minnesota legislature to create a corporate body with the name and style of The Minnesota Academy of Science, is from around 1903, 30 years after its 1873 founding as the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences. Signers include Alexander Ramsey and Academy founder N.H. Winchell. Ex-officio members were listed as "the presidents of the Normal Schools at Mankato, Winona, St. Cloud, Moorhead, and Duluth, and the president of the University of Minnesota."
This typed and annotated document is labeled as the "First Constitution of the Minnesota Academy of Science," thus presumably around the 1933 refounding (cf., the 1873 founding constitution of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences). Article II states that, "The object of the Academy shall be the promotion of the sciences through an organization of scientists resident in the State of Minnesota." Provision is made for officers, committees and meetings, "taking into account the state wide nature of the organization." The By-Laws set the annual dues as two dollars for each active member and one dollar for each associate member.�
This short historical sketch summarizes the 1873 founding and early years of the Minnesota Academy of Natural Sciences and gives a first-hand account of its 1932 re-founding as the Minnesota Academy of Science. It was written by its 1932-33 president, W. A. Riley, and was published in the Front Matter of the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, 1934, Vol. 5 No.4, pp. 3-4.
The second annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the Mayo Clinic Building on April 21, 1934. This program shows 9 scientific talks, on topics ranging from An Indian Rock Shelter in the St. Croix to The Ballistics of Gun Shot Wounds. In addition to the business meeting, there was also an address given by Dr. W. J. Mayo. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The third annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 13, 1935. This program shows 8 scientific talks, on topics ranging from Scientific Concentrates to Soil Erosion Demonstration Areas in Southeastern Minnesota. In addition to the business meeting, there was also a talk by Mr. U. G. Purssell, former head of Minneapolis Weather Bureau, titled Fifty Years Experience in the Weather Bureau. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1936 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at Carleton College on April 18, 1936. This program shows 17 scientific talks, ranging from "The Development of Public Health Medicine in Minnesota" to "Cast Iron Pavement to "The Forestry and Biological Station of the University of Minnesota at Itasca Park." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
This printed Constitution of the Minnesota Academy of Science is from around 1937. It is very similar to the 1933 Constitution but has removed the associate membership category; the By-Laws set the annual dues as "one dollar for each member." The election process for members is also different, requiring nomination by a member, recommendation by the Council, and a two-thirds vote of the organization, at which point "he shall be duly elected."
The 1938 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at St. John's University on April 23, 1936. This program shows 28 scientific talks, ranging from seismic geophysical prospecting to "Early Man did Roam in Minnesota." There was a program for the Junior Academy, including a science movie. The docket for the business meeting is also included. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1939 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at Macalester College and the St. Paul Institute on April 22, 1939. This program shows 40+ scientific talks, ranging from lead poisoning in Minnesota waterfowl to carbohydrate metabolism to variable stars. There was a talk about and a tour of the Science Museum at the St. Paul Institute, as well as a program for the Junior Academy. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1940 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 19-20, 1940. This program shows 40+ scientific talks, ranging from "Minnesota Lake Surveys and Fish Management" to the geology of the Duluth region. The program for the Junior Academy included talks by high school students, including reports from Science Clubs. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1941 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the College of St. Catherine on April 25-26, 1941. This program shows 70+ scientific talks, ranging from "Growth and Distribution of Clams in the Mississippi River above Minneapolis" to "Newly Discovered, Non-metallic Mineral Deposits of Economic Value in Minnesota." The Social Science section included 3 talks on "Price Control in Times of Emergency." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1942 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 24-25, 1942. This program shows 50+ scientific talks, ranging from "vital war mineral supplies" to control of apple scab to Minnesota archeology. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1943 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 24, 1943. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from "Nutrition in the Emergency" to "Limnological Notes on Lake Superior" to "Our Post War Domestic Economy. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1944 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 22, 1944. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from "Post-War Education and Counciling of Service Personnel" to hemophilia familial data to solid-state x-ray spectroscopy. The Social Science section included several reports on the impact of the war on Red Wing, Minnesota, as part of a "comprehensive study" initiated by the University of Minnesota graduate school. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1945 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at Hamline University on April 21, 1945. Minnesota's industrial future to "The Effect of Smoking Cigarets on Normal Persons" to Pleistocene mammalian inhabitants of Minnesota. The Junior Academy program included a talk by a high school student entitled, "Shall I Smoke?" Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1946 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 27, 1946. This program shows 50+ scientific talks, ranging from atomic energy research to "The War-time Development and Post-war Application of DDT and Insect Repellents" to "Prairie and Rock Vegetation in Rock County, Minnesota." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1947 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at State Teachers College in Mankato on April 26, 1947. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from "The Interrelations of the Scientist and Society" to "Chemical Products from Minnesota Peat" and "Lumbering in Minnesota's Northwest." The Junior Academy program included a tour of the Blue Earth County Historical Museum. Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1948 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the College of St. Thomas on April 24, 1948. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from "Scotch Pine Seed Sources for Northeastern Minnesota" to radiation hazards from radioisotopes to conservation education. An interrelated series of talks involved "Science and the Philosopher," "The Social Scientist Looks at Science," and "The Scientist Looks at Education and Research." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1949 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 23, 1949. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from "microwave diathermy" and a "microwave demonstrator" to the origin of Minnesota lakes. The keynote speaker was Dr. Benjamin Spock, of the Mayo Foundation, on "Emotional Development in Children." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
The 1952 annual meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science took place at State Teachers College in St. Cloud on May 2-3, 1952. This program shows 30+ scientific talks, ranging from Minnesota fisheries to ore prospecting to the flora of the Cedar Creek Forest. There was a special session for high school science teachers, with a discussion on "Organizing and Sponsoring a Chapter of the Junior Academy of Science." Full-text of the published papers is available in the digitized Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science.
This hand-written list of Minnesota Academy of Science presidents 1932-1956 includes such prominent Minnesotans as the explorer/geologist and Carleton College president Laurence M. Gould, Bell Museum of Natural History director Walter J. Breckenridge, and Hiram E. Essex, one of several from the Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundation. An up-to-date list may be viewed at the Academy's website, including links to further information for selected individuals.